open · Team Building · 15–30 min · 4-20 people · medium energy
Guess the Desk
A social guessing game where team members try to match photos of home office setups to their owners. It humanizes remote colleagues by providing a glimpse into their personal working environments.
When to use Guess the Desk
To build personal connections and share remote work best practices in a fun, non-intrusive way.
What it solves
Feeling disconnected from colleagues' physical realities in a remote-first culture.
How to run Guess the Desk, step by step
- Ask participants to submit a photo of their desk to the facilitator privately before the session.
- Display the photos one by one on a shared screen without revealing the owner (2 mins per photo).
- The group discusses clues and votes on who they think the desk belongs to.
- The owner reveals themselves and shares one thing they love about their setup (5-10 mins total).
Materials needed
- Collection of participant desk photos
- Screen sharing capability
- Polling tool or chat for voting
Facilitator tips
- Encourage people to include 'Easter eggs' or small personal items in their photos to act as clues.
- Use this as a transition to discuss ergonomic tips or remote work boundaries.
Common pitfalls
- Some participants may feel self-conscious about their living space; make participation optional.
- Ensure photos are high enough resolution to see details.
Variations
- Guess the Bookshelf: A more specific version focusing on what people are reading.
Running it online or hybrid
Requires asynchronous prep where participants upload photos to a central folder or board before the meeting.
What it produces
A shared gallery of workspace photos and a 'best setup' tip sheet.
Origin
Adapted from SessionLab's Virtual Team Building collection — source
Build a session around Guess the Desk
METODIC places Guess the Desk inside a complete, timed session plan — agenda, worksheets, facilitator guide and slides — matched to your group and goal.